Attempting to be a Buddhist (and sometimes, not-so-Buddhist) in real life! Thoughts and experiences day-to-day and how they relate to the teachings of the Buddha.
Welcome to my first post from my new apartment. I’ve officially been dwelling in this space for one week. YAY! Most of the time my outlook is pretty positive, which is huge considering the boxes and boxes of crap cluttering up the place. I make a little progress every day. So it’s good. I do feel a bit lonely from time to time. But I hope that will pass.
I did make it to Sangha on Thursday night. It was nice getting back to focus on Dharma. Although I manage to work a connection to Buddhism into every day events, there is just nothing like sitting with your own community.
As I mentioned in a previous post, this series is on anger. While I am not a tremendously angry person (I do have a bit of a temper from time to time), it is still a nice reminder that anger serves no real benefit to anyone. I think all humans would benefit to hear that from time to time. In my slightly biased opinion, I think most people would benefit from hearing a bit of dharma. I don’t mean all the world should be Buddhist (although, if you look closely, it is!). I found this quote from His Holiness the Dalai Lama the other day, and I’d like to share it. “Don’t try to use what you learn from Buddhism to be a Buddhist; use it to be a better whatever-you-already-are.”It inspires me to no end to see a great spiritual leader so humble that he doesn’t need to demand that his way is the only way. There are ways to enrich our spiritual selves through experience with the universe. When we keep a narrow view on the road, we will miss the beautiful scenery that’s along side us.
Our teacher made note this week of something that has stuck with me. We often get so frustrated or angry thinking that we can only do “this” OR “that”. We limit ourselves to just two options, when potentially, the options are limitless. I would like to keep that truth with me, right in the front of my mind. I need to remember that there are more choices than the ones I see immediately before me.
Tonight I finished setting up my makeshift altar. I am on a hunt for the perfect piece of furniture for my Buddhas to reside. But until then, this will do. This was the first time I made an offering of incense, and sat in front of my Buddhas and meditated. I prayed, I prostrated, I was in the moment of practicing without distractions or anxiety. It was lovely.
Here’s the photo of my Buddhas at there temporary home. 
Peace to all!
I'm so happy that you're settling in to your new place. I'm also sorry that I haven't been around more. It sounds like you're handling things with your usual style and grace. I love the quote! That sounds like some of the things I've read that Gandhi wrote -- I admire him greatly as well. I'll have to read more of the Dalai Lama. I love quotes!
Great quote & so good to hear you're settling in... :-)
Bravenet Blog 
Blog Community
Get a Free Blog
Manage your Blog
bravenet.com